Registered Intern Re-Applications

Hi everyone,

So with the notice from November 2024 about Registered Interns being able to re-apply for the Registered Intern license, I figured it would be helpful to give the information on that I have gathered. So, you will find it here.

For reference, please go to the following board meetings, linked here: https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/meeting-information/past-meetings/

November 18th 2024- check the meeting audio and the full meeting notes

February 6th, 2025- check the meeting audio, final recording, in the public comments.

Now, as you all know, all Registered Intern licenses, from date of issuance, are given a 5 year active period. After the 5 year period is up, the license goes inactive without intervention.

Previously, when the board enacted the 5 year rule, the registered intern was essentially SOL if their license lapsed and would need to go through another state’s requirements and then re-apply to FL through endorsement. After a period of time during COVID, they decided to allow for a one time 2 year emergency extension for extenuating circumstances. They also at some point starting looking at allowing some registered interns to secure provisional intern licenses, but those requirements or recommendations were much less clear.

Now they are allowing for registered interns to reapply for another 5 year period of registered internship.

Now, what happens now if a registered intern’s license expires?

What happens next depends on a few factors:

• If the registered intern has not completed neither their hours nor their licensure exam, then as of November 2024 they may re-apply for Registered Internship for another 5 years. Registered Interns may do this up to 3 times before needing to present in front of the board.

• If the registered intern has completed their hours but NOT their licensing exam, then they may be directed to apply for a provisional license, which requires 1 supervision session per month but is otherwise similar to Registered Internship. It is an application sent to you by board staff.

• If a registered intern went through a personal hardship, they may also apply for the one time, 2 year hardship extension. That is a separate form but not an application. The licensing exam is required to be passed.

• Irrespective of the circumstance, if you foresee your registered intern license expiring and cannot apply for full licensure, be sure to act on it quickly: at least 30 days prior to the license expiring.

If you are looking to apply for a new registered intern license or a provisional license, follow these steps:

1. Reach out to the board (MQA.491@flhealth.gov) and notify them that you are nearing the 5 year expiry of your registered intern license. Do it at least 30 days before it expires. Ideally earlier. In the email, let me know what requirements you have completed and which avenue they recommend you follow up with to continue moving towards requirements. Maybe also let them know a little bit about WHY it’s taken you past the 5 years to get your full license.

2. Once they reply, they should give you a paper application for whichever avenue they recommend. Take that, follow the instructions, and submit it back to the board, with as many ways as you can, ideally. Right now, you cannot re-apply to registered internship with your current MQA login if you have applied before.

3. For the registered internship application, it is essentially the same one you first filled out. You will not have to supply your official transcript or your internship letters from your prac/internship.. EDIT: You WILL have to submit a new QS letter. If you have completed any additional coursework during your time as a registered intern, you may add that and supply any transcripts there, if that was part of your initial letter.

4. You will make payments for both the provisional and registered intern applications, none AFAIK for the emergency hardship.

5. It goes without saying, too, that your progress is not reset if you are recommended to re-apply for registered internship. They just continue your numbers like normal.

If there’s any more info that comes out in the coming weeks, or if they start putting out official admin rules/notices on it, I’ll amend this post with that.